DALLAS (TIP): On August 16, India‘s Ambassador to United States Navtej Sarna handed over the papers of the first shipment of crude oil worth USD 100 million that will be imported from the U.S. to India to the Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, giving a major boost to the world’s third-largest oil importer.

The Indian Embassy in Washington tweeted images and video of the Sarna-Abbott meeting.  “Opening New Vistas in India, US co-opn Amb @NavtejSarna handing over pprs for 1st shipment of crude oil import to Texas,” the Embassy tweeted.

In a tweet a day earlier, Texas Senator Ted Cruz said his state would provide crucial oil exports to India and serve as a reliable long-term supplier of energy. In a certificate issued to Ambassador Sarna, the Texas Governor said in the decades to come “this relationship will continue to be one of the world’s most significant” as the US and India work toward common goals of prosperity, strength and peace.

“As a top exporter to India with over USD 2 billion annually in exports and as the nation’s leader in crude oil reserve and production, Texas looks forward to our growing relationship with India,” Abbott said.

The shipments have already begun – starting sail from August 8 till August 14. It is expected to reach Odisha’s Paradip Port by the end of September.

The development comes three days after U.S. President Donald Trump made a phone call to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to greet him on India’s 71st Independence Day.

Over 6 million barrels of U.S. crude oil has been ordered in last one month by the Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL) and the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (BPCL).

U.S. President Donald Trump had mentioned that his country looked forward to exporting more energy products to India, when Prime Minister Modi visited the United States in June.